SKYLINE

This is actually an Italian crew, but I didn't realise this when I first heard the album - this feels more like the product of a Kansas-tinged American neo-prog tradition, like early Echolyn, combined perhaps with hints of the sunny attitude and vocal styles of the Flower Kings. I wasn't sure about this one at first, finding some of the vocal harmonies a bit cheesy, but over time Barock Project eventually won me over thanks to all the intricate little hidden twosts this album has stashed away in its depths. Much like the unzipping sky on the cover art, Barock Project's music presents a facade of simplicity at times, but don't be fooled - it'll take you to some wild places once you dig into it. On the whole it still doesn't quite feel like my cup of tea, but that's more down to me being not so hot on the Kansas/Flower Kings style rather than anything intrinsically wrong with the album.